Valve mechanism



Sept. 24, 1940. v. ca. KLEIN 2,215,352

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1939 a Sheets-SheetZ F'IG.2.

mate/dew;

w wi f v. G. KLEIN VALVE MECHANISM Sept. 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 27, 1939 FIG.3.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED ST ATESPATENT OFFICE r Y I aziassz H vALvEMEonANIsM. victor (i. Klein, ,St, Louis, Mo., assin ior ,to

Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo. a corporation ot lylis souri Application Novcmber'z'l, 1939, Serial .No. 306,207

-roam (01. 121-464) This invention relates to! vaive mechanisms,

and with regardtocertain more specific features, to a full-stroke valve mechanism, for reciprocatmg engines. j I

Among the several objects of the invention may be notedthe provision of a full-stroke valve mechanism which requires no moving springs but only the operating fluid or the engine for motivationto full-stroke positionsof the valve: the provision of a valve mechanism of the class described which, without excessive wear, functions with a desirable quick cut-oil or snap-action; the provision of a mechanism of this class in which available air pressure serves to seal the valve to 5 its seat; the provision of improved valve guiding andseating means; and theprovision of apparatus of the class described in which the seal ing means which is used to maintain the operating air pressure for the valvegear, functions to protect the gear from the entry of ioreignmaterial. Other objects will be in part obvious andin part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of l construction. andarrangements ofparts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter describedand the scope of the application of which will be indicated in'theiollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention, 3 Fig. l is a vertical section showing the invention applied to a reciprocating air engine, the

pistonof the engine beingshown in its lower most position; i

/ Fig.2 is a view similar toFig. 1 showing the piston in its uppermostposition;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 ofFig.2; H r Fig. 4 is a vertical section takenon line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing a D-valve in one position;

Fig. .5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 -5 of Fig. 3, showing said D-valve in another position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an operating linkage,

the figure being viewed from line 6-6 of Fig. 3, the linkage being shown in anupper extreme position corresponding to that shown inFiglZ;

and, i

5 Fig. '7 is a view si linkage inalowermost position corresponding to that shown in Fig.1. T l Similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views of 55 the drawings. it

milar to Fig. 6, showing said Most full-stroke valve mechanisms for reciprocating enginesand the like have involved the use pump cylinder, the latter being for insertion into lubricant barrels and the like (see for example United, States Barks Patent 1,858,979, dated May 17,- 1932). It isto the air-operatedlance type of lubricant pump that the present invention is shown as being applied, but it is tobe understood 15 that his applicable to any adaptable type 01 reciprocating engine. 1

Referring now more particularly to Fig. Lthere is shown at numeral 1 an air engine cylinder having an upper head 3 and a lower head 5 connected by suitable draw studs 1. The lower head 5 is supported upon the cylinder of a lubricant pump (not shown) andcarries a stuffing gland 3 through which reciprocates' a piston rod II.

Within the engine cylinder lis a reciprocating piston l3 fixed upon an extension ii of the piston rod II. The extension i5 is hollow, as indicated at I! for the reception of ahead I9 30 of a valve trip rod 2|. The hollow portion I1 is enclosed bya cap 23 so that there is a limited lost motion between piston l3 and the trip r'od 2|.

The trip rod 2| is provided with a lower shoulder 25 which is borne through a lower packing 35 gland 21 in the head 3. Above the shoulder 25 is a reduced portion 29 and above the reduced portion is a second shoulder 3| which slides in and is guided by a bearing 32 in a piston 33.

The piston 33 is movably fitted into a dash- 4 pot 35 and is surrounded by a suitable packing gland 31 therein. "rne portion of the dash-pot which is above the piston 33 communicates with the atmosphere by means of a port 39. The dash-pot 35 is in the upper wall of an air-tight casing 4| which forms an extension from the head 3. The casing is enclosed and sealed shut by means of a cover 44. It provides'a casing in which the internal pressure may be raised by leading in air under pressure over passage II 50 (see Fig. 3). Thus, in view of the opening 39 communicating with the atmosphere, the piston 33 tendsto be forced up in the dash-spot 35.

The casing 4lis cored to form an exhaust port 43 and two teed ports 45 and 41. .The feed port 45 passes to therupper end of the cylinder 1, and port 41 passes to the lower end of said cylinder by Way. of a connecting pipe 49 and a passage 5| in the lower head 5. The pipe 49 is clamped in position between the heads 3 and 5 by the tension in the studs 1, suitable packing 53 being used for sealing purposes.

The portion of the casing 4| adjacent the ends of the passages 43, 45 and 41 is machined circularly in a vertical plane to receive a valve plate 55. The plate 55 carries an exhaust port 43A which forms the valved end for the exhaust port 43; and also inlet ports 45A and 41A which form the inlet valve ports for the feed ports 45 and 41, respectively.

The purpose of the valve plate 55 is to obtain a convenient hard-surfaced member for sealing cooperation with a D-valve 51. Valve 51 rides on the plate 55 in such a way as to connect the exhaust port 43A either with the inletport 45A or the inlet 41A, dependingupon position. The port 45A or 41A which is uncovered is thus placed in communication with the inside of the enclosing casing and cover 4| and 44.

Since the passages 45 and 41 communicate with the opposite ends of, the cylinder I, it is clear that the motion of the D-valvev 51 controls distribution of fluid ,(air in the present example) to the opposite ends of the cylinder. At the time thata given passage 45 or 41 is open to its respective cylinder end, the other passage 45 or. 41 is in communication with the exhaust passage 43 by way of the hollow inside of the D-valve. For example in Fig. -2 the D-valve is in its. upper position in which the passage 45 is delivering air to the upper end of the cylinder and the passage 41 is in communication with the exhaust passage 43.

Plan views of the valve assembly are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It consists of the plate 55 upon which are side spacers 6|. These spacers form a lateral support for a. guide plate 63 which serves the purpose of guiding the valve in a straight line and limiting its endwise motion by means of integral stops 65. From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the stops 85, in view of the spacers 6|, are spaced from the plate 55, and therefore form a space for the reception of foreign material which the valve may push toward the end of its stroke. That is, such foreign material does not build up in any corner to unseat the valve or to shorten its stroke but is pushed under and out from the respective stop 65. In Figs. 2 and 5 this space is shown at 6B.

The round valve plate 55, side spacers 6| and spaced guide plate 63 are held down by means of headed studs which are loosely passed through openings in said members and threaded into the housing 4|. Resilient springs 69 reacting between the heads of the studs 61 and the plate 83 serve resiliently to hold the assembly in place. The purpose of thus resiliently holding down this assembly is to prevent distortion of the plate 55 which is very accurately surfaced in connection with the bottom surface of the D-valve to obtain a good seal. Any substantial distortion, such as might be employed by directly bolting down the plate 55, might cause leakage between valve 51 and its seat. Air pressure in the housing 4| tends to hold the D-valve 51 against its seat on the plate 55. Air is brought in over the passage H by means of an inlet pipe 13 which communicates with a suitable air compressing arrangement (not shown).

The D-valve 51 is operated by a trip shoe 14 outside of the D-valve 51, so that there is also lost motion between these. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the legs 15 of the trip shoe 14 are long enough to contact with the ends of D-valve 51, but they are separated an amount to provide said lost motion.

Extending from the back of the trip shoe is a pin 19 which reaches through a slot 8| of a supporting plate 80. The slot 8| is long enough to accommodate the necessary vertical movement of the pin 19. The plate includes also a slot 83 through which extends a pin which forms an extension from the dash-pot 33.

The purpose of the plate 80 is to support a linkage shown in Figs. 6 and '7. For simplicity this linkage has, in Figs. 6 and '7, been separated from the pins 85 and 19 which normally would be inserted at the arrows indexed by said numerals 85 and 19.

The linkage consists of a bell-crank 81 which is pinned at 89 to the plate 80. One arm of this bell-crank is slotted as shown at 9| so as to cross the guide slot 8|, for the purpose of joining said pin 19 of the trip shoe 14. The other or toggle arm of the bell-crank 81 is pinned at 93 to a toggle link which is in turn pinned at the pin 91 with a connecting rod 99. The pin 91 not only, articulates the links 95 and 99, but also is uided by a slot |0| of the plate 80, as indicated in Figs. 1, 6 and '1. Thus, one arm of the bellcrank 81 and the link 95 function as a toggle mechanism which is overcentered to the right when the pin 19 is down (Fig. '7) and which is overcentered to the left when the pin 19 is up (Fig. 6). The toggle is centered at the time that the pin 19 is at its mid-position.

The plate 80 is held down to the casing 4| by means of suitable holding bolts, one of which is shown at 13 in Fig. 3, and the openings for which are all shown in both Figs. 6 and 7.

Operation of the device is as follows:

Assume that the piston I3 is down, as shown in Fig. 1, and that the trip shoe 14 is also down. The D-valve is then down and connects the passage 45A, 45 with the exhaust 43A, 43 and the passage 41A, 41 with the lower end of the cylinder (see Figs. 1 and 5). Air under pressure flows over the inlet port 1| into the sealed casing 4|.

The piston |3 rises with lost motion in respect to the trip rod 2|, until the bottom of the recess |1 contacts the head l9. Then the trip rod 2| moves upward carrying with it, after a small further movement, the trip shoe 14. The upward movement of the trip shoe carries with it the pin 19 which works in the slot 8|. Since the pin 19 extends into the slot 9| of the bell-crank 81, the bell-crank is forced upward so as to move the toggle parts 81, 95 from the right-hand collapsed position shown in Fig. 7 toward the dead center position. When the slot 9| in the toggle arm reaches approximately a horizontal position the toggle members 81, 95 are approximately straightened out, that is'they reach about dead-center,

and thereafter pass over dead-center as the pin 19 rises beyond 'mid position. This conditlonoccurs approximately when the piston l3 reaches the desired upper end of its stroke andslightly ahead of the time that the lower leg of the trip l the advantages of the invention over the use oi" a spring for similar purposes. a

Afterthe toggle straightens, a slight continued rise from center of the pin 19 causes overcentering to the togglenfll, 95, whereupon it breaks to the left and is pulled into .thepposition shown in Fig. 6 by theair pressure on the piston 33 acting through thepin 85 and link 99. This, suddenly drives the trip shoe 14 with a. snap-action to the position shown in Fig; 2. During the snap-action it strikes the valve 51 and raises it so as to expose the lower passagelSA, 45 to air pressure while connecting the passage 41A, 41 to the exhaust 43A, t3. This reverses the feed of air to the cylinder l to a point above the piston so as to drive it down.

The distance between shoulders and 3| on,

the trip rod 2| allowsthe snap-action advance of the trip shoe 14. i

Upon the downward action the piston first moves with lost motionwith respect to the trip rod 2| (see Fig. 2). After some movement of the trip rod 2i its head contacts the upper end of the trip shoe 14 to move it downward. As the pin "it descends to mid position (toggle 81, 95 straightened out) [the trip shoe H approaches but does not at that time touch the valve 51. This draws down the biasing piston 33 against the internal air pressuraand as the toggle 81, 95 overcenters, the upwardrnotion of the piston 33 pulls down. the pin it with a snap action. Thus the upper leg 15 of the trip shoe It strikes the valve (iii to push it down into its original position. This completes the cycle which is actuated repeatedly as long as air pressure issupplied to the inlet H.

i it suitable valve (not shownlfin the line I3 serves starting and stopping control purposes.

For dross purposes, the apparatus is covered by pot by a nut llll and by thehead 5.

from the above it will be seen that the trip shoe it has a lost motion with respect to the trip rod Ill for the purpose of permitting the shoe to advance after overcentering of the linkage shown in Figs. 6 and 7. At the same time the lost motion between the trip shoe and the valve 51 allows for the advance that is necessary forbringing the linkage into overcentering position before the valve 51 is moved. The ,lost motion between the piston I3 and the trip rod II is for the ,purpose of obtaining a substantial piston advance a case Hill which is held in position onthe dashbeforeany movement is initiated. It is clear of course that further piston advance is eflectedlin moving the trip shoe (4 up into the position where the linkage islbrought over dead-center position. The sum of these two advances substantially con- .;stitutes the piston stroke. l

springs are used'in the apparatus. The springs pressure in the casing.

used in the packing gland and under the heads of the studs 61 are merely permanently tensioned for structuralpurposes, The air pressure on the piston 33 of the dashpot 35 (1) takes the place of a spring, (2) holds the valve 51 down to its seat to efiect a seal and, (3) holds the valve 51 in any shifted positiondue to friction caused by the pressure. At the same time closure for maintaining the air pressure in the valve casing forms a sealed covering ,for the valve arts, thus guarding against entry oftoreign particles, i

The air pressure is not subject to fatigue in its action, as isa flexing spring under snap-acting conditions. l i

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made inthe above constructions without'jdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

1. A valve mechanism comprising a valve, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with the valve, a trip rod having a lost-motion engagement with the trip shoe, an overcentering mechanism connected with the trip shoe, and

means for tensioningsaid mechanism away from overcentering position. s

2. A valve mechanismfor operation by a piston engine, comprising a trip rod having a lost-mo tion engagement with respect to the piston, a valve, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with the valve andwith respect to the trip rod, an overcentering mechanism connected to the trip shoe, and means for tensioning said mechanism away from overcentering position.

3. A valve mechanism for operation by a piston engine, comprising a trip rod having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the piston, a

valve, a trip shoehaving a lost-motion engage ment with the valve and withrespect to the trip rod, an overcentering mechanism connected toovercentering position, said tensioning means comprising a dash-pot connected tothe casing and a piston therein andexposed to the internal 5. A valve mechanism comprising an enclosed valve casing under internal fluid pressure, a valve therein, a trip shoe having a lostmotionenga ement with the valve, a trip rod having a lostmotion engagement with the trip shoe, an over centering mechanism connected with the trip shoe, .means for biasing said mechanism away from overcentering position, said biasing means comprising a dash-pot cylinder connected to the casing and havingan outlet communicating with the atmosphere, a piston therein and exposed to the internal pressure in the casing and normally forced toward the outlet.

6. A valve mechanism comprising a closed case under internal pressure, said case having an exhaust passage and feed passages, a

movable valve adapted to alternatively communicate one feed passage with the exhaust passage while exposing the other feed passage to said pressure, trip means having a lost-motion engagement with said valve, an overcentering snap-acting mechanism connected with said trip means adapted to move to mid-position during lost motion of the trip means with respect to the valve and thereafter to overcenter and force the trip means to move the valve, and means for tensioning said overcentering mechanism comprising a piston connected thereto and exposed to said internal pressure, and a dash-pot forming a part of said casing and movably carrying the piston. I

7. A valve mechanism comprising a closed case under internal pressure from a fluid supply, said case having an exhaust port and feed ports leading therefrom, a movable valve seated by said fluid pressure and adapted alternatively to communicate one feed port with the-'exhaust'port while exposing the other feed port to said pressure, trip means having a dost-motion engagement with said valve, an overcentering snap-acting mechanism connected with said trip means adapted to move to overcentering position during lost motion of the trip means with respect to the valve and thereafter to overcenter and force the trip means to move the valve, and means for tensioning said overcentering mechanism comprising a piston connected thereto, a dash-pot forming a part of said casing and movably carrying the piston, the piston at its interior being exposed to interior pressure and being biased outward from the case.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a trip rod, a valve member, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the trip rod and a lost-motion engagement with respect to the valve, an overcentering operating linkage for the trip shoe operable through dead center and to overcentering position by a substantial part of the lost motion between the trip shoe and the valve, means for tensioning said mechanism to either side of dead centering position, said tensioning means after overcentering being adapted to cause the trip shoe to force the valve to an alternate position with snap action, the resulting motion being accommodated substantially by said lost motion between the trip shoe and the trip rod.

9. A valve mechanism for operation by a piston engine, comprising a trip rod having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the piston, a valve member, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the trip rod and a lost-motion engagement with respect to the valve, an overcentering linkage for the trip shoe operable through dead center and to overcentering position by a substantial part of the lost motion between the trip shoe and the valve, means for tensioning said mechanism on either side of dead center position, said tensioning means after overcentering being adapted to cause the trip shoe to force the valve to an alternate position with snap action, the resulting motion being ac- I commodated substantially by said lost motion between the trip shoe and the trip rod.

10. A valve mechanism for operation by a'piston engine, comprising a trip rod having a lostmotion engagement with respect to the piston, a valve member, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the trip rod and a lost-motion engagement with respect to the valve, an overcentering operating linkage for the trip shoe operable through dead center and to overcentering position by a substantial part of the lost motion between the trip shoe and the valve, means for tensioning said mechanism away from overcentering position, said tensioning means after overcentering being adapted to cause the trip shoe to force the valve to an alternate position with snap action, and pneumatic means for biasing said overcentering mechanism away from dead center.

11. A valve mechanism comprising an enclosed valve casing under internal fluid pressure, a valve therein, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with the valve, a trip rod having a lostmotion engagement with the trip shoe, an overcentering mechanism connected with the trip shoe, means for tensioning said mechanism away from overcentering position, said tensioning means comprising a dash-pot cylinder connected to the casing and having an outlet, a piston therein exposed to the internal pressure in the casing and normally forced toward the outlet, and a sliding bearing between the piston and the trip rod whereby the latter is aligned.

12. A valve mechanism comprising an enclosed casing carrying an internalfluid pressure, a movable valve therein, a trip shoe having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the valve, a trip rod having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the trip shoe, a dash-pot forming a communication between the casing and the outside, a piston in said dash-pot closing oil the connection and normally forced to the outside by said pressure, and an overcentering linkage connecting said piston and the trip shoe.

13. A valve mechanism comprising an enclosed casing carrying an internal fluid pressure, a movable valve therein, a trip shoe having a lost-m0- tion engagement with respect to the valve, a trip rod having a lost-motion engagement with respect to the trip shoe, a dash-pot forming a communicationbetween the casing and the outside, a piston in said dash-pot closing off the connecttion and normally forced to the outside by said pressure, an overcentering linkage connecting said piston and the trip shoe, said linkage comprising a bell-crank having one arm connected to and swung by the trip shoe, a toggle link connected to the other arm of the bell-crank, and a connecting rod connecting said toggle link with said piston whereby the toggle is tensioned to an overcentered position one way or another from its dead center, the connection between the trip shoe and the bell-crank being adapted to'bring said toggle to and slightly over'center under the lost motion between the trip rod and the valve and whereby the tensioning action of the piston and connecting rod on said toggle mechanism thereafter forces the trip shoe to move the valve with a snap action according to the lost motion available between the trip shoe and the trip rod.

14. In a D-valve construction, a valve casing, a separate valve plate having valve ports, a D-valve movable on and fitting said plate and cooperating with said ports, separate valve guiding means surrounding said valve, means for holding the valve guiding means and plate comprising at least one headed stud passing loosely through the guide means and the plate, and resilient means between the head of the stud and the guide means.

15. In a D-valve construction, a valve casing, a separate valve plate having Valve ports, a

-D-v'alve movable on and fitting said plate and cooperating with said ports, separate valve guiding means surrounding said valve, means for holding the valve guiding means and plate comprising at least one headed stud passing through the guide means and the plate, resilient means between the head of the stud and the guide means, said guide means comprising aspacer means on the plate at the sides of the valve, and a guide plate above the spacer means providing spaces between it and the plate adjacentthe ends of the valve and limiting the endwise mo tion of the valve.

16. In a D-valve construction, a valve casing, a separate 'valve plate having valve ports, a

D-valve movable on and fitting said plate and cooperating with said ports, valve guiding means comprising guides at the sides of the valve, and

a portion above the spacer means providing to expose the other feed port to pressure from the valve casing, a supporting plate for a mechanism, said plate being located opposite the valve, a trip rod movable between the valve and the supporting plate, a trip shoe slidable on said trip rod and located between said plate and the valve and having a lost-motion engagement with the valve, heads on the trip rod having lost-motion engagement with the trip shoe, a dash-pot connecting the interior of the casing with the exterior, a piston slidable in said dash-pot and concentric with said trip rod, bearingmeans between the piston and said trip rod providing alignment for the latter, said plate having slots, one of which slidably receives an extension from the piston shoe and the other of which slidably receives an extension from the piston, a mechanism connecting said extensions, comprising an overcentering toggle on the plate, a connecting rod between the piston and the toggle whereby bias on the piston due to internal casing pressure biases the toggle to one overcentered position or another, and a connection between said toggle and the extension from the trip shoe.

VICTOR G. mm. 

